Back-brace



R. E. KELLY.

BACK BRACE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 4. I919.

' 1,371, 90, PatentedMar. 15,1921.

'ATTORNEY ATENT orr cs.

BoBEnrEi/nvriirr KELLY, or JAoKsoNvILLn, FLORIDA. a

BACK-BRACE.

7 Specification of Letters Eatent; jatgnted Trial, 15, 1921,

Application filed. October a, 1919. semi No. 328,371.

To all to from it may concern."

Be it known that 1, RO ERT E. KELLY, a citizen of the United States. residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Back-Brace, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to back braces, and its object is to provide a device which may be readily attached to the human body withoutthe necessity of untastening and refastening holding means after the initial adjustment is accomplished, the back brace serving as a support for the body or" anoperator whose occupation demands bending or stooping of the body especially.

at the hips, the use of the back brace to a large extent preventing or relieving fatigue of the back muscles.

The invention is an improvement, in the way of simplicity of construction and re lief from localized pressure, over the back brace for which Letters Patent No.1,202.851 were granted to me on Gctober 31, 191 6.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a spring tending to main tain a contracted, straight position along the back or" the wearer but yield-able both longitudinally and laterally to bending movements of the wearer. Connected to one end of the spring are shoulder straps in the form of loops through which the arms may be passed. and at the other end of the spring are other loops, adapted to embrace the thighs of the wearer by introducing the legs toot foremost into the'last-named loops. Provision is made for flexibility of movement and for such adjustments as may be needed to fit the back brace to the particular wearer. i

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications come within th scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a rear View of the back brace partially spread out;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the back brace applied to the human figure and illustrating its operation.

Referring tothe drawings, there is shown a spring 1, which 'may be and preferably is of the expansible helical type, though not necessarily confined to such particular type. At one end, the terminal portion of the spring is formed into a hook 2, and at the other end has a terminal prolongation 3, with the extremity enlarged as shown at 4, such enlargement being conveniently made by upsetting or riveting. The extension 3 traverses eyes 5 at the opposite ends of U- shaped members 6, each swiveled on the extensionand each adapted to receive a loop 7, which mav be formed or a strap having a buckle S at one end. The swivel members 6 may also be slid alongthe extension 3 of the spring. "The other end of the strap is passed through the buckle so as to provide a continuous loop, the size of which may be varied by drawing the end remote from the buckle through the latter to the desired extent. .Each loop 7 is adjusted to a suitable 'at their spread or separated ends by another strap 12, the last named strap terminating at each end in a buckle 13. Fast to and extending in opposite directions from the webbing 9 are other straps 14, each terminating in a series of holes 15, so that the straps 14 .may be secured to the buckles 13 in adjusted positions, whereby the straps 11 and 14 may be formed into loops through which the arms of the wearer may be passed, the

strap 12 passing across the chest of the wearer and connecting the two loops formed by the straps 11 and 14.

. The structure is readily applied in a manner similar to a one-piece garment, so that the lower portion of the body to the thighs is inserted through'the loops 7, while the chest portion ofthe body is embraced by the connecting straps 11, 14 and 12, with the strap 12 extending across the chest and the straps'll and 14 embracing the shoulders. The Webbing or pad 9, which may be made sufficiently broad for the purpose, en-

is therefore in no wise uncomfortable because of looseness. ll hen the wearer has oc-- casion to lean over, as for'instance, when picking material from the ground or near to the ground, the springextends along the back of the wearer, and is expanded; in opposition to its normal tendency by the elongation oi the space between the portion of the body engaged by the loops 7 and the shoulders of the wearer where embraced bythe shoulder straps. The tendency of the spring to retract serves to support thcupper part of the body when the latter is bent torwardly, thus relieving the back muscles from the effort to uphold the bot y, and the usual fatigue which is brought about by bending over for any extended length of time, is wholly or in most part eliminated.

The back braceis so constructed as to distribute the weight of the upper part of the body and relieve any particular set of muscles from the, strain of supporting the upper partoi the body. The arms and legs are left entirely free, and where the weight brings pressure to bear upon parts of the body, such parts are in the main over bony structure-s, capable of resisting the pressure. Therefore, an operator may work comfortably in a stooping position for a long time without materially tiring. y i

It for any reason the operator may desire to remove the brace, this is performed by simply straightening up and throwing oil the brace, as'one would remove a pair of pants with ordinary suspenders attached, leaving the brace incondition torreapplica- .tion without any adjustment whatever.

What is claimed is a 1. A back brace comprising an elongated expansible spring capable of flexinglaterally, a pair of members swivelly and slidably connected with one end of the spring,

means at the lower end of the spring to prevent said members t'rom falling off the spring, an adjustable strap loop passed through each member and adapted to embrace the thlghs of the wearer, webbing connected to the other end of the spring, straps connected to andextending from opposite sides of said webbing and provided with means for forming the straps'into loops.

2. A back brace comprising an elongated expansible spring capable of flexing laterally, adjustable, strap, loops swiveled to one end of the spring, a member connected to the other end of the spring, straps connected to and extending from opposite sides of said member and provided with means for torming the straps into loops, and another strap connecting the loops when formed, said member being constructed to form a connection with thefspring in different positions lengthwise of the member. J

A back brace comprising an elongated expansible helical spring with one end formed into a hook and the other end pro longed and headed at its-extremity, swivel members carried by the headed extension, straps each provided with abuckle adjustment for forming them into loops of different sizes and each connected to a respective swivel member aconnecting member with perforations therein for receiving the hook end of the spring, diverging straps fast at one end tothe connecting member, another strap common to and connecting the ends of the diverging straps remote fronithe connecting member, and other straps extending oppositely from the connecting member, said last-named straps and the strap connecting thediverging straps having coacting joining means whereby the diverging and lastnamed straps may be formed into loops.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signamm. H

ROBERT EMMETT KELLY.

Witnesses: I r

A. ARoNovrrz,

SYDNEY L. Moons. 

